Unity, Part 2

It was Christ’s express desire that we should be a testimony about Him in the world. He was quite clear on how we should do this: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35) It is very difficult for us to convince anyone that we love one another when we cannot tolerate even the most minor differences in understanding between brothers and sisters in Christ. It is not through evangelical programs but through love relationships that we truly testify to the world about Christ.We are to love one another as members of the same spiritual and eternal family---the family of God the Father. It is in this way only that the world will know the glory of Christ our Savior.All the witnessing programs and all the efforts at evangelism that have ever been will result in little apart from the love of Christ demonstrated in the lives of believers. If we are to demonstrate the love Christ, it must begin with Christians loving one another. You may well say that Christians loving each other is too elementary an act to have much effect on the unsaved world. However, the strength of this “simple thing” resides in its elementary nature. If we cannot do so basic a thing as loving each other, we shall never convince the world that we sincerely love them. The power of the love Christ to change lives must first be expressed in the tolerance we show to each other.

Used with permission from the book, "My Father and Your Father" by Wm. Landon

Rich

* Unity

E Pluribus Unum

The motto on the seal of the United States is the Latin phrase “the many are one.” This should be the description on the Christian church. However, the reality of Christianity today is that we are fragmented and are daily becoming more divided. As more and more organizational church denominations spring up the fragmentation grows. What message does this send to the unsaved world? A South African bishop once noted: “The presence of denominations is Christianity’s testimony to the world about how much we hate each other.”
Sadly, the bishop’s statement is most correct. We cannot show forth the love of Christ if we cannot tolerate any shade of difference among the members of our own spiritual family (the family of God) The hundreds (and perhaps thousands) of Christian denominations that exist today are the result of our intolerance of each other that grows out of our insecurity. I believe that our denominationalism is the principle reason why Christians are seen by the world at large as being a group marked by intolerance. The world has no vested interest in church organizations and therefore has no reason to gloss over this shortcoming. For this simple reason, the world sees this situation clearly---more clearly than most Christians. No Christian should wonder why the person from the world is inherently distrustful of our intentions.

* Used by permission from my friend Bill Landon

Rich

The second Man, the last Adam

The ever subtle seduction that would try to steal the affections of our hearts for Him.
Without the innate and intuitive ability of His life in us, we are moved to worship that which has the form of Godliness, but is void of any true power.There is still very much alive and active within some, a predisposition towards all of the so called outward markings of a true man, woman of God.
Natural (the first Adam was a living soul, a natural man) fleshly abilities that have nothing to do with who He truly is.As our spirit was originally created to be a container for Him, the one that wanted to become the Father of our spirit, so the unique self that we are was designed to be complete in displaying Him alone.
When was the last time you heard of a mirror getting bent out of shape because everybody was busily looking at themselves in it? A mirrors function is to reflect another’s image, much like the moon reflecting a light and glory of another, the sun.Without understanding who He is, and who we are in Him, it will be a perpetual jockeying for self-recognition one way or another.Too many identities are derived from our fleshly abilities, and it is theses that oppose Him.
I know of folks that I refer to as “steady eddies”, never too high, or too low. Mistakenly so many that are not that way, look upon a person displaying these traits as being spiritual, under the control of the Holy Spirit. When in fact it is nothing more than a soulish expression. Without the inner illumination of the Holy Spirit we blindly accept remnants of the first Adam to be Life for us.Our Father is a jealous lover (God), and in the process of being permitted to make Himself known to us, there will in fact be idols that must come down.He is the Living Sword, wanting to bring moment by moment separation between our soul and our spirit. As the Light shines, anything that has become a substitute for Him the Prince of Peace will have the sword applied to their life. I believe He said, I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.

Rich

An Exchange Of Life

The following is a copy of an instant message sent by my good friend Rick to another brother.
I asked him if I could post it here on my blog, because in it I see so much that revolves around the Truth-Life-Reality of what it means to be in Christ.

I have never met Rick in person, but our meeting with one another is no less real. I am indebted to our Father for the richness of His life that I have to come to experience in my brother.
In Him we move, live, and have our being!!!!!! A link to his blog http://acceptedinthebeloved.blogspot.com/

I do not have time right now to have my precious English Major wife to go through all of this and bring in the magical final touches needed, but it shall happen.

Rich



Everyone no doubt has a perspective, brother Frank. Of that there is no doubt. What I hear your soul crying out for is the Truth. Receiving the Love of the Truth is a good thing! You won’t go too far wrong in seeking the one Truth, for that is who He is.

As one who spent years in both the Charismatic movement and the “Grace” camp, I have seen the destruction that both can cause, when Truth is abandoned. What I found in the Charismatic movement is that much (but certainly not all) of what is attributed to demon spirits is demonic all right, but has its root, not in the celestial cities, but in the flesh of man. Casting out spirits of lust, fornication, lying, etc., does not really free anyone in the long run, because the primary manifestation of the enemy against a person’s soul is through their own flesh, something that cannot simply be exterminated or cast out, unless one can somehow remove his own brain (as it dwells in the body of man).

“Grace” people, for the most part, as you have probably noticed, make much sport of anything demonic. The devil/the demonic is really just the big boogey man/illusion, with no power to war against the soul of the saint. But this is not what the scriptures teach. Haven’t you asked yourself why in much of “Grace” teaching scripture use is either very selective, must be re-interpreted, or is disregarded altogether? If Jesus is the Truth, and the scriptures testify of that Truth, and I love the Truth, why would the writings of Christ or the Apostles be a stumbling block to my soul, unless I don’t really love the Truth. And who possibly would be directing and deceiving my soul away from the Truth and Light? My friend and Counselor, the Holy Spirit? Or perhaps the enemy of my soul? Is the Jesus of Revelation speaking to the churches the evil twin brother of the Jesus with the children on His lap? I used to think so. But as I awoke out of my soul slumber, I found that it is indeed the same Jesus, the Lover of my soul, and the one who speaks Truth, for that is what/who He is. If that Truth produces both Love and Reverence in my soul, is that not a good thing?

Those who would tell you that their message of license and liberty cannot possibly lead to vice, are either not being honest (would not be the first time for that on the Internet), or not being truthful (wouldn’t be the first time anyone was deceived), either totally reinterpreting what vice means, what sin means, even what Grace means (nothing more than an altered state of mind that a good hypnotist can accomplish. I know the latter because I used to be involved in “ministry” that used hypnosis).

I can only tell you what I have seen. We had a mini-“Grace revival” years ago, where a “Grace” teacher came in and taught that it was ALL finished. That you could live your life as you pleased. That this is God’s will and good pleasure. That sin is only an illusion now because it had been fully paid for. That All are reconciled to God and will experience Salvation, etc. Strangely, the fruit of that message in my own and others lives did not resemble the fruit of the Spirit, but the fruit or works of the flesh. I have seen widespread divorce, adultery, sexual immorality, lying, cheating, alcoholism, drug addiction, hatred, self-seeking, you name it, all done under the banner of “Grace”. Heck, even the “Grace” teacher himself returned to a homosexual lifestyle. Are these manifestations particular to the “Grace” movement? Certainly not. Are they evidence of deception/darkness in operation rather than Truth/Light? I think you know the answer to that yourself. Anyone who says that sin does not, when full grown, produce destruction in my soul, needs to think again.

Am I saying that these folk aren’t children of God anymore? Not in the least. Our spirits are in perfect union with Him. However, Is this “gospel” (or any other which is not of the Truth) the Path to sonship, to salvation of the soul? Does it lead us to walk in the Light, or in the darkness? Does it lead me to walk in the Spirit and treasure His Counsel, or walk in the flesh, and value its “advice.” Does it lead me to Love his Appearing, or dread it (or even make His Appearing into something it is not)? Does it lead me to a Love of the Truth, or a disdain for the same? Does it lead to a perfecting and maturity of my faith, or possibly a shipwreck of that same? Does it lead me to a yearning to see His good works borne through my soul, that He may be glorified, or a mind set on the things of the world/flesh, and how I might please myself? Does it lead to real Life working in me to overcome the desires of the flesh/enemy directed against my soul (aka temptation), or does it lead to justifying the desires and works of the flesh? Does it lead to putting on the full armour of God to stand against the wiles or strategies of the evil one, or to laying that same armour down, thinking either that the war is over, or even that it is impossible for me to be deceived.

Have you asked yourself why much of what you hear seems to be such a shell game, with no real answers to your questions? Perhaps because it is. Anyway, I am not trying to promote any agenda. And this is Robert’s site, so he obviously is paying the freight here. But maybe that Voice telling you that something is not right in this teaching is not “stinking thinking” but of your and my True Friend. He doesn’t disagree with the Scriptures. Amazingly the Life He desires to manifest through our souls does nothing but affirm the Truth witnessed to in the Scriptures, and the Scriptures themselves are meant to affirm the witness borne through our own soul, by that same Spirit.

Anyway, I just want to encourage you in your walk in Him. As one who spent years asleep in my soul in the darkness, I can testify that this is a very unprofitable path. Thank God for His Mercy! Blessings to you brother!

Your brother in Christ,
Rick

The Warm Fuzzies, Or The Truth

Knowing The Truth

If Jesus was and is (as He declared to be) The Only Truth, Way and Life of the Father, then there has to be so much more than what we’re seeing in ‘churchianity’, meaning, so many see truth being “ a wonderful concept”. What is the definition of ‘concept’?
Main Entry: con·cept Function: noun Etymology: Latin conceptum, neuter of conceptus, past participle of concipere to conceive -- more at CONCEIVE1 : something conceived in the mind : THOUGHT, NOTION2 : an abstract or generic idea generalized from particular instances synonym see IDEA
Do the scriptures indicate that He who has the Son, has a great thought, notion or idea?? No! He who has the Son has LIFE, for the Life is in the Son!
Somehow, I do not see Paul, the Apostle of Grace saying, “Hey do you want to hear some great concepts?” Conceptual thinking, in my opinion, has nothing to do with knowing Him. It takes revelation, not special glasses or self-proclaimed holy anointed gurus! (Eph. 1:16-19)
Truth has to be much more than good doctrine or ecclesiastical fodder aimlessly thrown about. It’s not MY truth versus YOUR truth. That’s nonsense.The Truth is a Person. Salvation is a Person. God has so much more than a wonderful plan for each of us. He has a Son He wants us to know. Oh, that I might know Him!
If there is to be any meaningful fellowship, then it must flow out of the source of all truth, God’s Son Christ Jesus.
TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS.
Without listening or taking heed to His voice we are left with conceptual thinking. Truth is inseparable from a Person; otherwise we are left with nothing but concepts and abstract thoughts that cause dissension and division within the body of Christ. It is this kind of thinking that has done anything but foster a mutual love for each other.

Rich

The Truth Telling Us the Truth...

The Truth Will Make You Free

So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine;
and you will know the truth, and the truth will make (set) you free."

If you read this encounter in John chapter 8 you will see the folks Jesus is speaking to trying to cling to a lie that is coming from their father, (not God). It is seen by them as being truth, but the Living Truth is shining through all their smoke and mirrors stuff.

Is it possible for any of us to be so zealously convinced that just because we say, 'we believe something', that, that in fact is the truth?
In the ongoing process of the Father training us to become fully mature sons, no longer being children, I see a very real possibility of us coming to see many things (in the Light of Him being the Truth) that we have accepted as truth, but in fact were mere substitutes for the Truth!
Jesus was not a new spin-doctor trying to flatter fleshly thinking. Instead, He being that Living sword that separates between spirit and soul was clearly exposing the fleshly thinking for what it was.
As long as we are in these tents of flesh, this will be the order of the day...the Truth setting us free, if in fact, that is what we want.

Rich